Main Content

Agronomics

Soybeans and Cotton Agronomics

Soybeans and cotton are valuable crops on Virginia farms and the Tidewater AREC serves as a key base for soybean and cotton production research and variety testing. The goal is to develop cultural practices and identify varieties that enhance farm sustainability through increased productivity, production cost control, and reduction or elimination of environmental impact. This is done primarily through evaluating soil fertility and plant nutrition of agronomic cropping systems, evaluating efficiency and efficacy of no-till cropping systems, and studying the biochemical processes regulating nutrient cycling within no-till crop production systems. Agronomists, Hunter Frame and David Holshouser, lead these programs along with collaborating scientists from campus, Tidewater and other ARECs, graduate students, cooperating growers, and technical staff with funding support from commodity board, industry, and other competitive grants. Selected examples of current research topics include:

Determination of the optimum potassium fertilizer rate in full-season and double-crop soybean.

Increasing yield and profitability of double-crop soybean in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Programs and employment at the Tidewater AREC are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.